NEGROS Occidental third district Representative Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez celebrated his 49th birthday -- a prelude to his golden year -- with his family, friends, colleagues, and constituents at the Victorias City Sports and Amusement Center (VCSAC) over the weekend, December 20. Throngs of supporters and well-wishers flock to the VCSAC, also called the Victorias coliseum, to greet the Negros solon on his birthday. The occasion also served as a Christmas celebration for his constituents as he treated them to food, raffle prizes, and exciting show from Manila-based comedians and entertainers like Jason Gainza, Mitoy Yonting, Long Mejia, and Sam Concepcion. The birthday celebrator was joined by his wife Nikki, son Javi, and daughter Bettina during his special day. As a leader of Love Negros, and former provincial chairman of the Liberal Party in Negros, his birthday was graced by local officials namely, Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Bacolod Lone District Representative Evelio Leonardia, Acting Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya, Acting Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Talisay City Mayor Dr. Eric Saratan and wife Sheila, Murcia Mayor Andrew Montelibano, Silay City Vice Mayor Mark Andrew Golez, Grupo Progreso’s Bacolod candidates Ricardo Tan, Al Victor Espino, and Bart Orola. City and town councilors, teachers, government employees, and barangay officials of Victorias, E. B. Magalona, Silay, Talisay, and Murcia also graced his birthday celebration. As the leader of the Visayan bloc in the House of Representatives, Benitez’s birthday celebration was also honored by Guimaras Rep. JC Rahman Nava, Negros Oriental 2nd District Representative George Arnaiz, and Abang Lingkod Partylist Representative Joseph Stephen Paduano. The venue was dominated with people wearing yellow shirt, as yellow is the official color of Benitez’s party. In between the celebration, Benitez delivered his State of the District Address (Soda), which has become a tradition every year. Benitez reported to his constituents the implementation of his various programs and projects for Infrastructure, Health, Education, Livelihood, and Policy-making -- which form the acronym I-Help. The congressman stressed he had once said that the help will come from him. This is his promise to his constituents when he started to seek their support in the 2010 election, when he sought re-election in 2013, and even now as he seeks re-election in the May 2016 election for his third and last term. Benitez said he is driven by hard work and commitment to serve his constituents with the kind of service they deserved. By CARLA N. CANET
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A resolution authorizing acting Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya to enter into and to sign the memorandum of agreement between Bacolod City and the Department of Public Works and Highways-Bridges Management Cluster-Unified Project Management Office, was approved by the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod Wednesday. Acting Bacolod Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday said the resolution was authored by Councilor Ana Marie Palermo for the implementation of the Araneta-Magsaysay flyover project. The DPWH-BMC-UPMO will be represented by Lea Delfinado while Gasataya will represent the city, he said. Familiaran said the SP approved the resolution subject to the conditions that DPWH will shoulder the maintenance of the road and the relocation of tourism lights. Earlier, Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia had asked Gasataya to facilitate the implementation of the flyover to be built at the Araneta-Magsaysay intersection. Leonardia issued his appeal and pointed out that, during his term as mayor, he had signed the MOA with the DPWH on August 31, 2009 and the City Development Council had then approved it on October 29, 2010. The Magsaysay fly-over is one of the two that Leonardia, as congressman, had requested from DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson for Bacolod to help ease the traffic chokepoints in the city. Each is supposed to cost approximately P365 million. The other one, which was supposed to be built along the Circumferential Road near Lopue's East was shelved because suspended Mayor Monico Puentevella opposed it, Leonardia said. Leonardia also said that with the leadership and cooperation of Gasataya and Familiaran, he is positive that this project will push through. The Bacolod flyovers along Araneta-Magsaysay junction and Burgos-Circumferential Road were originally part of the 10 mega bridges of the national government. Meanwhile, Puentevella claimed that the project was started when he was congressman in 2003 and that the two flyover projects were approved during his term. Puentevella said that according to Singson, the Magsaysay flyover is needed while the one to be built along the Burgos-Circumferential Road is not necessary.* CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO Bacolod City Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran’s ownership of a stall in Manokan Country has raised questions on his objectivity regarding the proposed sale of the go-to place for grilled chicken lovers.
Familiaran owns a stall in the 1.7-hectare property owned by the city government, which suspended mayor Monico Puentevella wanted to be sold. Laying the argument on conflict of interest, Vladimir Gonzales, Familiaran’s opponent in next year’s vice mayoral race, said in a report by Panay News that the acting vice mayor’s impartiality will be put to test once the city council votes on the property sale. Gonzales noted that under the rules, the vice mayor, being the presiding officer of the City Council, is the swing vote in case of a tie. Gonzales also assailed the city government’s “bias” for Familiaran, who was reportedly paying a monthly rent of only P1,200, while others were paying more than P2,000 a month. But Familiaran said his acquisition of the stall in 2006 went through the right process and that his monthly rent was lower than the others because he paid for the construction of the stall. POLITIKO VISMIN BACOLOD City – The rivalry between Bacolod City Mayor Monico Puentevella and lone district Rep. Evelio Leonardia is starting to take shape. Puentevella and Leonardia are expected to face each other in the 2016 mayoral race while former vice mayor Thaddeus Sayson will face incumbent Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya for the lone district seat. Puentevella said they will launch their political party called MKK Partido Bacolod composed of new members and former political allies. The mayor said he will present their slate before the filing of certificates of candidacy in October. Puentevella said he believes that if former vice mayor Sayson decides to run, he will join MKK. Sayson, a member of the Grupo Progreso under the Nationalist People's Coalition, lost to Puentevella in the 2013 elections. Puentevella reiterated that there are more candidates who want to join their team which he described as stronger compared to 2013. Leonardia said he already decided what post he will seek in the 2016 elections following calls for him to wrest city hall from Puentevella. Gasataya said the congressman has asked him to run for congress. The vice mayoral bet of Leonardia’s group is Councilor El Cid Familiaran. By: Dolly Yasa Aside from the P3.5 million road project in Barangay Mandalagan that Bacolod Rep. Evelio Leonardia inaugurated Saturday, he also inaugurated another P3.5-million road project in Barangay Estefania on the same day. The newly concreted road stretches from Camelot Road to Country Homes Road. "This project will have a big impact on the commuting public as thousands of residents from several subdivisions are using this road," Leonardia said during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Estefania is now considered as a "growth area" because of the presence of several subdivisions like Meadows of Camelot, Camelot Village, Camelot Residences, Villa East Subdivision, Alexandra 1 and 2, East Homes 1, 2, and 3, Cityville, Bethany Court, Fortune Towne, Greensville 1, 2, and 3, and Country Homes 1 and 2. For those coming from Barangays Granada and Alangilan and these subdivisions, the newly concreted road becomes an alternative road going to the Circumferential Road, Leonardia said. If you are from these areas and you are going to the airport, you only need to pass through this road and it will connect you to the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road (BSAAR). You don't need to scramble at the Lopue's East area junction, where, unfortunately, because of the objection of suspended Mayor Monico Puentevella, the intended P365-million flyover did not push through, he added. From BSAAR, it will further connect you to the Honorata Manalo Road (formerly Buri Road) in Mandalagan, leading to the Lacson St. This is the way we should develop Bacolod, our road networks must be integrated," Leonardia added. Leonardia is also pursuing the implementation and completion of the proposed 4-lane Buri Road under the Tourism Convergence program of the Department of Tourism and the Department of Public Works and Highways. He said he hopes that the present administration under Acting Mayor Greg Gasataya and Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran will facilitate the resolution of the pending concerns affecting this project. For his part, Barangay Estefania Kagawad Narding Pagunsan, meanwhile, said they are very thankful to Leonardia for facilitating their request to develop the Estefania road. Before this, the road from Camelot to Country Homes could hardly be used, Pagunsan said. Now Estefania residents, and even those from other barangays can use the road in going to the airport or similar routes, he said, adding that it also helped decongest the Lopue's East area. The road project in Estefania is implemented by the DPWH and funded under the Regional and Local Community Infrastructure Program. Also attending the inauguration were Acting Mayor Greg Gasataya, Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, Councilors Em Ang and Caesar Distrito, former councilor Al Victor Espino, Bart Orola, Kagawad Narding Pagunsan, Kagawad Audie Solivar, Romanito Solinap, and Marlon Solidum.* BACOLOD City – Rep. Evelio “Bing” Leonardia announced before a huge crowd at an iconic site here yesterday that he wants to return to the city hall. He will run for mayor, pitting himself against long-time political rival, incumbent Mayor Monico“Newks” Puentevella. More than a thousand supporters gathered at the Manokan Country, this city’s famous chicken barbeque site at the Reclamation Area, for the congressman’s announcement. They chanted “Mayor, mayor, mayor” while holding placards with the words, “Bring back Bing.” Leonardia, who served as city mayor for 12 years, said he will file his certificate of candidacy (COC) on Thursday, Oct. 15. His announced his mayoral bid days before the highlights of the MassKara Festival, this city’s world-renowned celebration of people wearing ingenious costumes dancing on the streets and wearing masks that reflect the jovial Negrense spirit. Puentevella, who is seeking reelection, has not yet announced when he will file his COC. “Let them file ahead of us. I’m not in a hurry,” he said. Leonardia said deciding to run for mayor was not easy. His wife and some friends preferred that he seek reelection in the House of Representatives where they believe his chances of winning is bigger. “If you run for mayor, your opponent is an incumbent and has [a lot of] resources to defeat you,” said Leonardia. Leonardia and Puentevella have been constantly at odds. Puentevella has alluded to the congressman’s camp as behind a plot to oust him from city hall (he is facing suspension over a graft charge before the Sandiganbayan for the alleged misuse of his Priority Development Assistance Fund when he was still this city’s congressman). Leonardia, on the other hand, accused Puentevella of blocking the infrastructure projects that he had been lobbying for. The congressman, a member of the Nationalist People’s Coalition and leader of the local political group, Grupo Progreso (GP), also announced that he will declare GP’s complete lineup tomorrow. Also present at Leonardia’s declaration were Vice Mayor Greg Gasataya; councilors El Cid Familiaran, Em Ang and Caesar Distrito; former councilors Al Victor Espino, Atty. Renecito Novero, Ricardo Tan, Dindo Ramos and wife Jane; Cindy Roxas; Israel Salanga; and Marlon Solidom./PN BY MAE SINGUAY For the fifth time, the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod again deferred action on the request of acting Mayor Greg Gasataya to grant acting City Administrator Goldwyn Nifras authority to counter-sign checks in the account of the city with Land Bank of the Philippines. It also deferred action of the proposed ordinance of Councilor Archie Baribar to authorize Gasataya while they are trying to solve the matter of granting authority to Nifras to sign checks, during its regular session yesterday after almost two hours of deliberation. Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, said the members of the City Council had a lot of questions that have to be answered, due to the non-appearance of Nifras, who is suffering from a leg injury due to an accident. Because of the SP's failure to grant Nifras authority, Familiaran said that the City Treasurer's Office cannot release the salaries of regular employees which is sourced from the Land Bank of the Philippines, that requires an SP resolution granting the city administrator authority to co-sign checks drawn from the bank. Familiaran said he does not know if this can be considered an emergency case for Gasataya to sign checks. The decision will depend on Gasataya and his legal team, if they will consider this as an emergency matter, he said. According to the City Treasurer, Familiaran said, the city may probably pay 27 percent in penalty and surcharges with the Bureau of Internal Revenue, if it fails to pay its withholding tax today. Baribar said they will see if they can do something about it and if that would really happen. “Because of want of an open dialog, so many things are raised as scarecrows to us. Unless we have developed confidence and trust building, we will not be able to move forward as fast as we anticipate,” he said. Baribar said he wanted to find a “win-win” situation, not a “lose-lose” condition, happen. But it appears that the City Council decided to defer the ordinance he proposed. He said he believes there is a need for an executive-legislative caucus to discuss the matter because many questions need to be answered. An earlier executive-legislative caucus did not push through due to “prior commitments” of some councilors, he said. City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe, who appeared before the SP, yesterday, said he already prepared the checks to be withdrawn from the LBP because they do not want to be in default in their remittances to BIR that should be done every 10 th day of the month. However, they may not be able to withdraw the budget from LBP for the salaries of the regular employees because of the failure of the SP to act on Nifras' authority, he said. This can really affect the transactions and other obligations of the city government, he added. Balalilhi also pointed out that the funds of the city with the Philippine National Bank is just enough for the salaries and wages of job order casual employees for November, and is not sufficient to pay the salaries of regular employees, which should be drawn from LBP. The Internal Revenue Allotment of the city is deposited with LBP while the city's collection is with PNB, he said. He also called up the manager of LBP and was told that they only follow what is provided in Section 345 of the Local Government Code that only the city administrator can counter-sign checks. Balalilhi said that, based on the 2008 audit memorandum of the Commission on Audit, the city administrator is authorized as counter-signatory of checks. If you do not follow the COA memorandum they will be disallowed, he said. Meanwhile, Councilor Claudio Puentevella said Gasataya should have not overreacted to the absence of the majority of the members of the SP during a special session he requested for Monday because they have their own “personal reasons”. Puentevella said Gasataya should have not demanded for their presence because they also have their own commitments even before he scheduled the special session. However, Gasataya said they are trying to beat the deadline to prevent being imposed penalties and surcharges for failure to remit their obligations to BIR by December 10 with the LBP. If there are no deadlines to pay their obligations, they can wait for several sessions, he said. Gasataya said they believe this is part of a grand design to ensure that the acting mayor cannot function. The moment they authorize Nifras to counter-sign checks with LBP, there will be no problem and the city will be spared from paying penalties and surcharges running to millions of pesos, he said.*CGS BY CHRYSEE SAMILLANO December 10, 2015 WDJ
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has again failed for the fifth time to grant acting City Administrator Goldwyn Nifras an authority to co-sign checks and documents in behalf of the city government in yesterday’s session. This developed with Nifras still confined at the hospital and could not appear in the session, and the SP insisting to first get answers from him to questions the SP believes important to them. According to acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, the members of the legislative body had a lot of questions that Nifras should answer before they could give him the signing authority. Without this authority of Nifras to sign checks and other government documents, Familiaran said the City Treasurer Office cannot release the salaries of regular employees because the city usually sources its funds from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), which asked for an SP resolution granting Nifras an authority to co-sign checks withdrawn from the bank. Familiaran said the decision depends on acting Mayor Greg Gasataya now if he will consider signing the checks in order to release the salaries of regular employees, as may be possible under the circumstances. “It’s now up to him and his legal team to consider the situation as a matter of emergency, under which the mayor may sign the checks for the salaries of the regular employees,” Familiaran stressed. Familiaran revealed that Nifras has been requested to attend next week’s regular session, when the signing authority may already be granted to him. The acting vice mayor observed that the city may probably pay a 25 percent penalty with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) if the city fails to pay its withholding tax today. On the other hand, Councilor Archie Baribar, majority floor leader of the SP, said he wanted to find a way for a win-win solution. Meantime, however, the council decided to defer the ordinance he proposed in connection with Nifras’ authority. Baribar believed that there is a need for an executive-legislative caucus to talk about the matter. But the schedule for the caucus was not also pushed through. Baribar said he still has “boundless optimism” that things will work out soon. On the other hand, City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe, who appeared before the SP yesterday, said he already prepared the check, which will be withdrawn from the LBP once Nifras will be granted the required authority. However, they may not possibly withdraw from the bank for the salaries of regular employees because of SP’s failure to act on Nifras’ authority. “The present situation can really affect the transactions of the city government,” Balalilhe lamented./WDJ Watchmen Daily Journal By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has again failed for the fifth time to grant acting City Administrator Goldwyn Nifras an authority to co-sign checks and documents in behalf of the city government in yesterday’s session. This developed with Nifras still confined at the hospital and could not appear in the session, and the SP insisting to first get answers from him to questions the SP believes important to them. According to acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, the members of the legislative body had a lot of questions that Nifras should answer before they could give him the signing authority. Without this authority of Nifras to sign checks and other government documents, Familiaran said the City Treasurer Office cannot release the salaries of regular employees because the city usually sources its funds from the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), which asked for an SP resolution granting Nifras an authority to co-sign checks withdrawn from the bank. Familiaran said the decision depends on acting Mayor Greg Gasataya now if he will consider signing the checks in order to release the salaries of regular employees, as may be possible under the circumstances. “It’s now up to him and his legal team to consider the situation as a matter of emergency, under which the mayor may sign the checks for the salaries of the regular employees,” Familiaran stressed. Familiaran revealed that Nifras has been requested to attend next week’s regular session, when the signing authority may already be granted to him. The acting vice mayor observed that the city may probably pay a 25 percent penalty with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) if the city fails to pay its withholding tax today. On the other hand, Councilor Archie Baribar, majority floor leader of the SP, said he wanted to find a way for a win-win solution. Meantime, however, the council decided to defer the ordinance he proposed in connection with Nifras’ authority. Baribar believed that there is a need for an executive-legislative caucus to talk about the matter. But the schedule for the caucus was not also pushed through. Baribar said he still has “boundless optimism” that things will work out soon. On the other hand, City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe, who appeared before the SP yesterday, said he already prepared the check, which will be withdrawn from the LBP once Nifras will be granted the required authority. However, they may not possibly withdraw from the bank for the salaries of regular employees because of SP’s failure to act on Nifras’ authority. “The present situation can really affect the transactions of the city government,” Balalilhe lamented./WDJ By Glazyl Jane Marie Y. Masculino ONLY four councilors have showed up during thE Bacolod City Council's special session on Monday which would have tackled the request of Acting Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya to grant authority to Acting City Administrator Goldwyn Nifras as co-signatory of checks issued by the City Government. These are Councilors Em Ang, Caesar Distrito, Roberto Rojas and Archie Baribar. The meeting, presided by Acting Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, started at about 3:45 p.m. and was adjourned before 4 p.m. Gasataya recalled that there was supposed to be an executive-legislative caucus Wednesday but this was cancelled at the last minute. The councilors who were absent, and are allied with Puentevella, claimed that they had a prior appointment with suspended Mayor Monico Puentevella. City Council's secretary Vicente Petierre said he had sent out Notices to the respective offices of the councilors Friday afternoon and also made a follow-up by texting them. Petierre said Councilor Ana Marie Palermo claimed that she was sick, Councilor Claudio Puentevella informed him that he was in Manila, Councilor Sonya Verdeflor had a court hearing to attend in Himamaylan, and Councilor Alex Paglumotan texted him that he cannot attend the special session. The request of Gasataya to authorize Nifras as co-signatory of checks has been pending for almost three weeks already and the special session yesterday was the fourth time his request was deferred by the SP. Gasataya said Nifras’s authority is urgent as the city’s financial obligations particularly to its regular employees, utility bills which are chargeable to Land Bank of the Philippines and also the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) withholding tax have a deadline of December 10. "These are reasons why we need the SP (City Council) action on the matter for us to catch up with those financial obligations of the city," he said. By CARLA N. CANET |
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